Method and apparatus for facilitating management of information technology investment

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus to facilitate management of IT investment includes storing data associated with performance metrics of a number of information technology (IT) projects, and generating a number of “scorecards” for a number of IT portfolios, using the stored data, with each scorecard indicating status of the IT projects of an IT portfolio relative to performance metrics, each IT portfolio having a subset of the IT projects. The method/apparatus further includes generating a number of “dashboards” for the IT projects, using also the stored data, with each dashboard graphically illustrating one or more aspects of at least one IT project, and facilitating navigation from a scorecard to a corresponding one of the dashboards for a selected IT project by a user of the scorecard through selection of a representation of the IT project.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the field of information management.More specifically, the present invention relates to management ofInformation Technology (IT) investments.

2. Background Information

Ever since the invention of computer, enterprises, business orotherwise, have used computers to improve the productivity of theirworkers and efficiency of their business operations. In the beginning,enterprises tended to focus in a handful of high priority operationareas, such as financial management, general ledger, payroll and soforth. While these projects were often important, and the investmentwere not insignificant, but relatively speaking, the investment oftenrepresented only a small portion of the enterprises' investment ininfrastructure or research and development, and the overall success ofthe enterprises were not perceived to be critically dependent on theseprojects. Accordingly, except perhaps for periodic briefing formanagement of the organizational units that were directly impacted,senior management were seldom involved, and management of these projectswere typically relegated to data processing professionals, and managedin an ad hoc manner.

Over time, continuing advances in computer and other related technology,such as networking and telecommunication, have made it economically aswell as technically feasible to make available computing power tovirtually every single worker of an enterprise, and support virtuallyevery aspect of an enterprise's operations. As a result, the number aswell as the type of applications have broaden, from individual workerproductivity, such as word processing, email, and the like, to missioncritical operations, such as reservation and flight scheduling in thecase of the airline industry. The typical size and scope of many ofthese applications have also increased. In fact, not only the success ofincreasing number of conventional business enterprises are increasinglydependent on the success of their IT projects, we have new businessenterprises, such as Internet access providers, Internet portals,e-Commerce companies, emerging that are made possible by informationtechnology, which otherwise would not have existed.

With the increase in significance as well as in amount of investment,increasingly senior management of these enterprises are activelyinvolved in the management of their enterprises' investment in IT.Unfortunately, while the significance and the investment in IT haveskyrocketed in recent years, little advances have been made in the areaof managing IT. Project managers, mid-level managers as well as seniorexecutives continue to rely on a hodgepodge of non-integrated or poorlyintegrated individual software applications such as spreadsheet andproject management applications.

Thus, increasingly there are interest and desire in having automatedtools to assist management of all levels to manage these ever morecritical IT projects.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A method and apparatus to facilitate management of IT investmentsincludes, in one embodiment, storing data associated with performancemetrics of a number of information technology (IT) projects, generatinga number of scorecards for a number of IT portfolios, using the storeddata, with each scorecard showing where IT projects of an IT portfoliostand on the performance metrics, and each IT portfolio having a subsetof the IT projects. The method/apparatus further includes generating oneor more investment maps of the IT portfolios, using also the storeddata, with each investment map showing at least where a subset of the ITportfolios stand on a number of performance metrics. Themethod/apparatus further includes facilitating navigation from aninvestment map to a corresponding one of the scorecards for a selectedIT portfolio by a user of the investment map through selection of arepresentation of the IT portfolio.

In another embodiment, the method/apparatus further includes generatinga number of dashboards for the IT projects, using also the stored data,with each dashboard graphically illustrating one or more aspects of atleast one IT project. The method/apparatus further includes facilitatingnavigation from a scorecard to a corresponding one of the dashboards fora selected IT project by a user of the scorecard through selection of arepresentation of the IT project.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The present invention will be described by way of exemplary embodiments,but not limitations, illustrated in the accompanying drawings in whichlike references denote similar elements, and in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates an overview of the present invention, in accordancewith one embodiment;

FIG. 2 illustrates an organization of project data of FIG. 1, inaccordance with one embodiment;

FIGS. 3a-3 c illustrate the dashboard, the scorecard and the investmentmap of FIG. 1, in accordance with one embodiment each;

FIGS. 4a-4 c illustrate the relevant operational flows of the dashboardgenerator/viewer, the scorecard generator/viewer, and the investment mapgenerator/viewer of FIG. 1, in accordance with one embodiment each;

FIGS. 5a-5 c illustrate additional relevant operational flows of theinvestment map generator/viewer and the scorecard generator/viewer ofFIG. 1, in accordance with one embodiment each;

FIG. 6 illustrates a networking environment suitable for practicing thefacilitation of IT management of the present invention, in accordancewith one embodiment; and

FIG. 7 illustrates a computer system suitable for use as an ITexecutive, a portfolio manager or a project manager's computing deviceor a server of FIG. 6, in accordance with one embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the following description, various aspects of the present inventionwill be described. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in theart that the present invention may be practiced with only some or allaspects of the present invention. For purposes of explanation, specificnumbers, materials and configurations are set forth in order to providea thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will alsobe apparent to one skilled in the art that the present invention may bepracticed without the specific details. In other instances, well knownfeatures are omitted or simplified in order not to obscure the presentinvention.

Parts of the description will be presented in terms of operationsperformed by a computer system, using terms such as data, flags, bits,values, characters, strings, numbers and the like, consistent with themanner commonly employed by those skilled in the art to convey thesubstance of their work to others skilled in the art. As well understoodby those skilled in the art, these quantities take the form ofelectrical, magnetic, or optical signals capable of being stored,transferred, combined, and otherwise manipulated through mechanical andelectrical components of the computer system; and the term computersystem include general purpose as well as special purpose dataprocessing machines, systems, and the like, that are standalone, adjunctor embedded.

Various operations will be described as multiple discrete steps in turn,in a manner that is most helpful in understanding the present invention,however, the order of description should not be construed as to implythat these operations are necessarily order dependent. In particular,these operations need not be performed in the order of presentation.

Referring now FIG. 1, wherein a block diagram illustrating theintegrated facilitation of IT management of the present invention, inaccordance with one embodiment, is shown. As illustrated, in accordancewith the present invention, data associated with IT projects 102 arecollected and stored. More particularly, as will described in moredetail below, project data 102 are associated with a number ofperformance metrics of IT projects. Also illustrated, in accordance withthe present invention, “integrated” dashboard generator/viewer 112,scorecard generator/viewer 114 and investment map generator/viewer 116are provided to generate IT project dashboards 122, IT portfolioscorecards 124 and IT investment mapsmap 126 respectively. IT projectdashboards 122 are designed to assist IT project managers to managetheir respective projects, whereas IT portfolio scorecards 124 aredesigned to assist “mid-level” IT portfolio mangers to manage theirrespective IT portfolios. IT investment maps 126 in turn are designed toassist an IT executive (or its business partners) to manage the entireIT investment of his/her enterprise. More particularly, projectdashboards 122, portfolio scoreboards 124 and investment maps 126 arelogically integrated (as denoted by arrows 132 and 134) to facilitatemore in-depth understanding of issues surfaced by investment maps 126and by scorecards 124.

FIG. 2 illustrates an organization of project data 102 in accordancewith one embodiment. As alluded to earlier, in accordance with thepresent invention, project data 102 are associated with performancemetrics designed to show where IT projects stand. In one embodiment, theperformance metrics are key performance categories (KPC). In oneembodiment, these performance metrics (or KPC) include budget metrics,staffing metrics, project size and quality metrics, and progressmetrics. In one embodiment, the budget metrics include expense to budgetratios for a number of expense categories, such as personnel expenses,overhead expenses and the like. In another embodiment, the staffingmetrics include current staffing level to staffing requirement ratiosfor a number of staffing categories, such as senior analysts, softwareengineers with web design skills, software engineers with C++programming skills, engineers with networking skills and the like. Inyet another embodiment, project size and quality metrics include metricsmeasuring the quantity of code and documentation being developed, theamount of defects encountered or removed from these code anddocumentation. In yet another embodiment, the progress metrics includesmetrics measuring a number of task completion to schedule milestoneindicators for a number of project phases, e.g. feasibility phase,design phase, unit test phase, functional test phase and system testphase. In alternate embodiments, data may also be stored for otherperformance metrics (or KPC) in addition to or in lieu of some or all ofthe above enumerated example metrics/categories.

For the illustrated embodiment, project data 102 are stored in tables202 of a relational database, with each table storing a subset of thedata (in columns) for a subset of the projects (in rows). The data maybe organized into the various tables in any one of a number ofapplication dependent manner, taking into consideration the numberprojects, the number of performance metrics as well as other factors. Inalternate embodiments, project data 102 may also be stored employingother data organization techniques, including but limited to flat files,hierarchical databases and the like. In one embodiment, historic dataare also stored and maintained for some or all of the metrics for whichdata are being stored. In one embodiment, user annotations for all orselected ones of the metrics are also stored.

In one embodiment, the data to be stored, and whether historical and/orannotations are to be stored, are user defined. The user definition maybe provided through any one of a number of “input dialogues” known inthe art.

FIGS. 3a-3 c illustrate a dashboard, a scorecard, and an investment mapof FIG. 1 in further detail, in accordance with one embodiment each. Asdescribed earlier, dashboard 122 is designed to assist a project managerin managing a project. As shown in FIG. 3a, for the illustratedembodiment, dashboard 122 includes a number of graphical depictions 302a-302 d for a number of aspects of a project (as indicated by one ormore of the earlier described performance metrics). The graphicaldepictions 302 a-302 d may include the illustrated non-linear graph 302a, histogram 302 b, pie chart 302 c, linear graphs 302 d, as well asother depictions. The various graphical depictions 302 a-302 d are“tiled” in the illustrated presentation. In other embodiments, thegraphical depictions 302 a-302 d are arranged in a cascaded overlappingmanner instead. Further, a dashboard 122 may present graphicaldepictions for multiple projects instead.

In a preferred one of the embodiments, a project manager may select thesubject matters (i.e. the projects and their performancemetrics/categories) to be graphically depicted, the graphical depictionsto be employed, as well as the manner in which the graphical depictionsare to be presented. These selections may be specified by the projectmanager through any one of a number of “selection dialogues” known inthe art.

As described earlier, scorecard 124 is designed to assist a portfoliomanager in managing the portfolio of IT projects he/she is responsiblefor. As shown in FIG. 3b, for the illustrated embodiment, each scorecard124 is a tabular presentation of where the projects of a portfolio standon various performance indicators, with measurements of the variousperformance indicators of the projects occupying columns 306 ofcorresponding rows 304. Each performance indicator may correspond to aperformance metric or may be an aggregate, weighted or otherwise, of anumber of performance metrics (which may or may not be individuallydepicted in the subject scorecard). Additionally, in lieu ofconventional numerical and/or textual presentation, the measurements maybe advantageously depicted in symbols 308 (in color or otherwise) toenable the current standing of a performance indicator of a project tobe easily highlighted for a portfolio manager. Furthermore, for selectedones of the performance indicators, corresponding cross projectcomposite measures are automatically computed and presented in columnsof a cross project row (the top row, for the illustrated embodiment).Likewise, the cross project composite measures may be “aggregated” in aweighted or non-weighted manner, as well as presented in symbolicfashion (color or otherwise). Similarly, the contributing projects forthe computation of the cross project composite measures may or may notbe part of the subject scorecard. Most importantly, the presentedprojects are logically linked to their dashboards 122, to facilitate aportfolio manager to drill down or focus on a project if necessary.

In one embodiment, scorecards 124 may be used to present the status ofportfolios of portfolios (as opposed to projects) instead. But, for easeof understanding, the remaining description will primarily focus onscorecards 124 being used to present the status of portfolios ofprojects.

Similar to dashboard 122, in a preferred one of the embodiments, aportfolio manager may select the projects of a portfolio and theperformance indicators of the projects to be included, the manner theperformance indicators are to be “aggregated”, whether any cross projectcomposite measures are to be computed, the manner in which the crossproject composite measures are to be computed, as well as the manner inwhich the measurements are to be presented. These selections may too bespecified by the portfolio manager through any one of a number of“selection dialogues” known in the art.

As also described earlier, investment maps 126 are designed to assist anIT executive in managing IT investments of his/her enterprise. As shownin FIG. 3c, for the illustrated embodiment, an investment map 126graphically depicts a selected subset of the IT portfolios in accordancewith risk, technology type, their size and their soundness. Each ITportfolio is graphically represented by a “bubble”. In alternateembodiments, other graphical representations may be employed instead.The size and soundness of a portfolio are depicted by the size and colorof the “bubble”. The risk and technology type of the portfoliodetermines the placement of the “bubble”, e.g. with risk determining they-axis value and the technology type determining the x-axis value. Inalternate embodiments, the technology type, risk, size and soundness maybe conveyed through other visual attributes instead. Again, mostimportantly, the portfolios are logically linked to their scorecards 124to facilitate an IT executive to drill down or focus on a portfolio ifnecessary.

In one embodiment, the technology type of each portfolio ischaracterized by the portfolio manager as being evolutionary in nature,or instrumental in establishing a new computing platform ortechnologically transforming in nature. In one embodiment, thecharacterization may be accomplished through quantified indices (whichin turn are employed to generate the normalized x-coordinates).Similarly, the risk of each-portfolio is characterized by the portfoliomanager as being high, medium or low. In one embodiment, thecharacterization may also be accomplished through quantified indices(which in turn are employed to generate the normalized y-coordinates).In like manner, a portfolio manager also specifies how the size of aportfolio is to be measured, e.g. in terms of total dollars budgeted,total staffing, total number of lines of code to be written and soforth, as well as how “soundness” of a portfolio is to be measured, e.g.by the number of critical performance indicators in an “alert” state, orby the number of projects having at least one critical performanceindicators in the “alert” state, or both. These specifications may toobe made by the portfolio managers through any one of a number of“selection dialogues” known in the art.

In alternate embodiments, investment maps 126 may depict the status of aselection of IT portoflios relative to other performancemetrics/categories (as opposed to risk, technology type etc.). Again,the performance metrics/categories to be referenced in the depiction ofthe status of IT portfolios may be user specified, through any one of anumber of known “specification dialogues” known in the art.

FIGS. 4a-4 c illustrate the relevant generation operational flows of thedashboard generator/viewer, the scorecard generator/viewer, andinvestment map generator/viewer of FIG. 1, in accordance with oneembodiment each. As illustrated by FIG. 4a, for dashboardgenerator/viewer 112, upon start of the dashboard generation process fora project, at 402, dashboard generator/viewer 122 selects one of thespecified graphs for generation. At 404, dashboard generator/viewer 122generates the selected graph for the specified performance metrics. Themanner of generation is graph dependent, i.e. whether it is a histogramor a pie chart and so forth, to be generated. The generation of thesetypes of graphs are known in the art, accordingly will not be furtherdescribed. At 406, upon generation of the selected graph, dashboardgenerator/viewer 122 determines if additional graphs are to begenerated. If so, dashboard generator/viewer 122 returns to 402,otherwise, dashboard generator/viewer 122 continues at 408, where itarranges the graphs for presentation. For the earlier describedembodiment, dashboard generator/viewer 122 places and tiles thegenerated graphs.

As illustrated by FIG. 4b, for scorecard generator/viewer 114, uponstart of the scorecard generation process for a portfolio, at 412,scorecard generator/viewer 124 selects one of the project of theportfolio for generation. At 414, scorecard generator/viewer 124 selectsone of the specified performance indicators. At 416, scorecardgenerator/viewer 124 determines the measurement value of the selectedperformance indicator for the selected project. The manner ofdetermination is performance indicator dependent. For some performanceindicators, the determination may simply involve determining whether aperformance metric is higher or lower than a threshold value, forothers, the determination may involve any one of a number ofintermediate computations such as additions, subtractions,multiplications or divisions known in the art. At 418, upon determiningthe measurement value of a performance indicator for a project,scorecard generator/viewer 124 determines if measurement values foradditional performance indicators are to be determined. If so, scorecardgenerator/viewer 124 returns to 414, otherwise, scorecardgenerator/viewer 124 continues at 420. At 420, scorecardgenerator/viewer 124 determines if the portfolio has additional projectsto be processed. If so, scorecard generator/viewer 124 returns to 412,otherwise, scorecard generator/viewer 124 continues at 422. At 422,scorecard generator/viewer 124 determines the cross project measurevalues for applicable ones of the performance indicators. Finally, at424, scorecard generator/viewer 124 displays the generated scorecard.

As illustrated by FIG. 4c, for investment map generator/viewer 114, uponstart of the map generation process, at 432, map generator/viewer 126selects one of the portfolios for generation. At 434, mapgenerator/viewer 126 selects a project of the selected portfolio. At436, map generator/viewer 126 “aggregates” the performance metric valuesfor the selected project. The manner of “aggregation” is performancemetrics dependent. For some performance metrics, the “aggregation” maysimply involve summation of performance metric values, for others, the“aggregation” may involve a number of intermediate transformation ornormalization operations known in the art. At 438, upon aggregating theperformance metrics for a project, map generator/viewer 126 determinesif the selected portfolio has more projects to be processed. If so, mapgenerator/viewer 126 returns to 434, otherwise, map generator/viewer 126continues at 440. At 440, map generator/viewer 126 determines color ofthe bubble representation, to appropriately represent the soundness ofthe portfolio. Additionally, map generator/viewer 126 determines thesize of the bubble representation, to appropriately represent the totalinvestment of the portfolio, as well as the proper placement of thebubble representation, to appropriately depict the technology type andrisk associated with the portfolio. At 442, map generator/viewer 126determines if additional portfolios are to be processed. If so, mapgenerator/viewer 126 returns to 432, otherwise map generator/viewer 126continues at 444, and displays the generated map.

FIGS. 5a-5 c illustrate the relevant viewing operational flows of thescorecard generator/viewer and investment map generator/viewer of FIG.1, in accordance with one embodiment each. As illustrated by FIG. 5a,for map generator/viewer 116, upon being notified of the selection of aportfolio by a user (e.g. by way of clicking on the bubblerepresentation using a cursor control device such as a mouse), mapgenerator/viewer 116 determines the identity of the selected portfolio,502. Upon determining the identity of the selected portfolio, at 504,map generator/viewer 116 invokes scorecard generator/viewer 114 todisplay the scorecard for the selected portfolio, thereby facilitatingan IT executive in drilling down and focusing on a portfolio ofinterest.

As illustrated by FIG. 5b, for scorecard generator/viewer 114, uponbeing notified of the selection of a project by a user (e.g. by way ofclicking on the row of a project using a cursor control device such as amouse), scorecard generator/viewer 114 determines the identity of theselected project, 512. Upon determining the identity of the selectedproject, at 514, scorecard generator/viewer 114 invokes dashboardgenerator/viewer 112 to display the dashboard for the selected project,thereby facilitating an IT executive/a portfolio manager in drillingdown and focusing on a project of interest.

FIG. 6 illustrates a network environment suitable for practicing thepresent invention, in accordance with one embodiment. As illustrated,network environment 600 includes data server 602, IT executive computingdevice 604, portfolio manager computing devices 606, and project managercomputing devices 608. Server 602 and computing devices 604-608 arecoupled to each other via networking fabric 610. Further, server 602 andcomputing devices 604-608 are incorporated with the earlier describedteachings of the present invention. More particularly, server 602 isemployed to store project data 102, and provided with dashboard,scorecard and investment map generator/viewer 112-116 to facilitategeneration and viewing of the earlier described dashboards, scorecardsand investment map for an enterprise, by IT executives, portfoliomanagers, and project managers as described earlier, using computingdevices 604-608.

Server 602 is intended to represent one or more servers coupled to eachother through a local or a wide area network. In one embodiment,dashboard, scorecard and investment map generator/viewer 112-116 mayexecute exclusively on server 602 with the results transmitted todisplay on computing devices 604-608 through networking fabric 610. Inother embodiments, part or all of dashboard, scorecard and investmentmap generator/viewer 112-116 may be executed on computing devices604-608 instead. Further, there may be more than one executive computingdevice 604, as well as having computing devices that serve as acomputing device with more than one role, e.g. for an IT executive aswell as a portfolio manager or a project manager. Networking fabric 610is intended to represent a wide range of interconnected private andpublic networks, each constituted with networking equipment such asgateways, switches, routers and the like, such as the Internet.

FIG. 7 illustrates a computer system suitable for use as either server602 or computing devices 604-608 of FIG. 6 in accordance with oneembodiment. As shown, computer system 700 includes one or moreprocessors 702 (typically depending on whether it is used as server 602or one of computing devices 604-608) and system memory 704.Additionally, computer system 700 includes mass storage devices 706(such as diskette, hard drive, CDROM and so forth), input/output devices708 (such as keyboard, cursor control and so forth) and communicationinterfaces 710 (such as network interface cards, modems and so forth).The elements are coupled to each other via system bus 712, whichrepresents one or more buses. In the case of multiple buses, they arebridged by one or more bus bridges (not shown). Each of these elementsperform its conventional functions known in the art. In particular,system memory 704 and mass storage 706 are employed to store a workingcopy and a permanent copy of the programming instructions implementingthe teachings of the present invention. The permanent copy of theprogramming instructions may be loaded into mass storage 706 in thefactory, or in the field, as described earlier, through a distributionmedium (not shown) or through communication interface 710 (from adistribution server (not shown). The constitution of these elements702-712 are known, and accordingly will not be further described.

Thus, a novel method and apparatus for facilitating management of ITinvestment has been described. While the present invention has beendescribed in terms of the above illustrated embodiments, those skilledin the art will recognize that the invention is not limited to theembodiments described. The present invention can be practiced withmodification and alteration within the spirit and scope of the appendedclaims. For example, in addition to the above described dashboard,scorecard and investment map, the present invention may also bepracticed with a “management notebook” encapsulating the various projectdata for a project manager, and navigationally coupling e.g. thedashboards to these “management notebooks”. The description is thus tobe regarded as illustrative instead of restrictive on the presentinvention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: storing data associated withperformance metrics of a plurality of information technology (IT)projects; generating a plurality of scorecards for a plurality of ITportfolios, using said stored data, wherein said generating ofscorecards comprises generating a plurality of rows and columns for eachof said scorecards, and populating measures of the performance metricsof each IT project in columns of a row, and wherein said generating ofscorecards further comprises generating, for one or more of thescorecards, a cross-project composite measure for at least one of theperformance metrics, and populating the generated cross-projectcomposite measure in the corresponding column of a cross-project summaryrow, with each scorecard showing where IT projects of an IT portfoliostand on said performance metrics, each IT portfolio having a subset ofsaid IT projects; generating one or more investment maps of said ITportfolios, using also said stored data, showing where said ITportfolios stand on a plurality of performance metrics; and facilitatingnavigation from a selected one of said one or more investment maps to acorresponding one of said scorecards for a selected IT portfolio by auser of the selected investment map through selection of arepresentation of the IT portfolio.
 2. The method of claim 1, whereinsaid populating of the generated cross-project composite measurecomprises populating a selected one of a composite metric value and agraphical composite indicator of the performance metric in thecorresponding column of a cross-project summary row.
 3. A methodcomprising: storing data associated with performance metrics of aplurality of information technology (IT) projects; generating aplurality of scorecards for a plurality of IT portfolios, using saidstored data, with each scorecard showing where IT projects of an ITportfolio stand on said performance metrics, each IT portfolio having asubset of said IT projects; generating one or more investment maps ofsaid IT portfolios, using also said stored data, wherein said generatingof one or more investment maps comprises generating a plurality ofgraphical representations for the IT portfolios of each investment map,and placing the graphical representations in the investment map inaccordance with their IT portfolios' technology type and risk, saidinvestment maps showing where said IT portfolios stand on a plurality ofperformance metrics; and facilitating navigation from a selected one ofsaid one or more investment maps to a corresponding one of saidscorecards for a selected IT portfolio by a user of the selectedinvestment map through selection of a representation of the ITportfolio.
 4. A method comprising: storing data associated withperformance metrics of a plurality of information technology (IT)projects; generating a plurality of scorecards for a plurality of ITportfolios, using said stored data, with each scorecard showing where ITprojects of an IT portfolio stand on said performance metrics, each ITportfolio having a subset of said IT projects; generating one or moreinvestment maps of said IT portfolios, using also said stored data,wherein said generating of one or more investment maps comprisesgenerating a plurality of graphical representations for the ITportfolios of each investment map with at least a selected one of thesize of each of the graphical representations representing theinvestment size of the IT portfolio, and the color of each of thegraphical representations representing the soundness of the ITportfolio, each investment map showing where said IT portfolios stand ona plurality of performance metrics; and facilitating navigation from aselected one of said one or more investment maps to a corresponding oneof said scorecards for a selected IT portfolio by a user of the selectedinvestment map through selection of a representation of the ITportfolio.
 5. A method comprising: storing data associated withperformance metrics of a plurality of information technology (IT)projects; generating a plurality of scorecards for a plurality of ITportfolios, using said stored data, with each scorecard showing where ITprojects of an IT portfolio stand on said performance metrics, each ITportfolio having a subset of said IT projects; generating one or moreinvestment maps of said IT portfolios, using also said stored data,showing where said IT portfolios stand on a plurality of performancemetrics; facilitating navigation from a selected one of said one or moreinvestment maps to a corresponding one of said scorecards for a selectedIT portfolio by a user of the selected investment map through selectionof a representation of the IT portfolio; generating a plurality ofdashboards for said IT projects, using also said stored data, with eachdashboard graphically illustrating one or more aspects of at least oneIT project; and facilitating navigation from a scorecard to acorresponding one of said dashboards for a selected IT project by a userof the scorecard through selection of a representation of said ITproject.
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein each generation of adashboard for an IT project comprises generating a plurality of graphsfor a plurality of aspects of the IT project, and placing and tilingsaid graphs.
 7. A method comprising: storing data associated withperformance metrics for a plurality of information technology (IT)projects; generating a plurality of dashboards for said IT projects,using said stored data, with each dashboard graphically illustrating oneor more aspects of at least one IT project; generating a scorecard foran IT portfolio, using also said stored data, with the scorecard showingwhere IT projects of the IT portfolio stand on said performance metrics;and facilitating navigation from said scorecard to a corresponding oneof said dashboards for a selected IT project by a user of the scorecardthrough selection of a representation of said IT project.
 8. The methodof claim 7, wherein said storing comprises storing data associated withperformance metrics that include selected ones of budget metrics,staffing metrics, project size and quality metrics, and progressmetrics.
 9. The method of claim 7, wherein said generating of scorecardscomprises generating a plurality of rows and columns for each of saidscorecards, and populating measures of the performance metrics of eachIT project in columns of a row.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein saidgenerating of scorecards further comprises generating, for one or moreof the scorecards, a cross-project composite measure for at least one ofthe performance metrics, and populating the generated cross-projectcomposite measure in the corresponding column of a cross-project summaryrow.
 11. A method comprising: storing data associated with performancemetrics of a plurality of information technology (IT) projects; andgenerating a plurality of scorecards for a plurality of IT portfolios,using said stored data, with each scorecard showing where IT projects ofan IT portfolio stand on said performance metrics, each IT portfoliohaving a subset of said IT projects, each scorecard having a pluralityof rows and columns with measures of the performance metrics of aproject populating corresponding columns of a row, and at least onecolumn having a cross project composite measure of the performancemetric populated in the column of a cross project summary row.
 12. Themethod of claim 11, wherein said measures and cross project measures ofthe performance metrics comprise selected ones of metric values andgraphical indicators.
 13. A method comprising: storing data associatedwith performance metrics of a plurality of information technology (IT)projects; and generating an investment map of a plurality of ITportfolios, using said stored data, showing at least where said ITportfolios stand on technology type, risk, investment size andsoundness, with placement of each graphical representation of an ITproject denoting the technology type and risk of the IT portfolio, afirst visual attribute of the graphical representation denoting anamount of investment in the IT portfolio, and a second visual attributeof the graphical representation denoting soundness of the IT portfolio.14. The method of claim 13, wherein said first and second visualattributes of the graphical representation comprise size and color ofthe graphical representation.
 15. An apparatus comprising: a storagemedium having stored therein data associated with performance metrics ofa plurality of information technology (IT) projects, first programminginstructions to generate a plurality of scorecards for a plurality of ITportfolios, using said stored data, and generate a plurality of rows andcolumns for each of said scorecards, and populate measures of theperformance metrics of each IT project in columns of a row, andgenerate, for one or more of the scorecards, a cross-project compositemeasure for at least one of the performance metrics, and populate thegenerated cross-project composite measure in the corresponding column ofa cross-project summary row, with each scorecard showing where ITprojects of an IT portfolio stand on said performance metrics, each ITportfolio having a subset of said IT projects, second programminginstructions to generate one or more investment maps of said ITportfolios, using also said stored data, showing where said ITportfolios stand on a plurality of performance metrics, thirdprogramming instructions to facilitate navigation from a selected one ofsaid investment maps to a corresponding one of said scorecards for aselected IT portfolio by a user of the investment map through selectionof a representation of the IT portfolio; and at least one processorcoupled to the storage medium to execute said first, second and thirdprogramming instructions.
 16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein saidfirst programming instructions populate a selected one of a compositemetric value and a graphical composite indicator of the performancemetric in the corresponding column of a cross-project summary row. 17.An apparatus comprising: a storage medium having stored therein dataassociated with performance metrics of a plurality of informationtechnology (IT) projects, first programming instructions to generate aplurality of scorecards for a plurality of IT portfolios, using saidstored data, with each scorecard showing where IT projects of an ITportfolio stand on said performance metrics, each IT portfolio having asubset of said IT projects, second programming instructions to generateone or more investment maps of said IT portfolios, using also saidstored data, and generate a plurality of graphical representations forthe IT portfolios and placing the graphical representations in saidinvestment map in accordance with their IT portfolios' technology typeand risk, each investment map showing where said IT portfolios stand ona plurality of performance metrics, third programming instructions tofacilitate navigation from a selected one of said investment maps to acorresponding one of said scorecards for a selected IT portfolio by auser of the investment map through selection of a representation of theIT portfolio; and at least one processor coupled to the storage mediumto execute said first, second and third programming instructions.
 18. Anapparatus comprising: a storage medium having stored therein dataassociated with performance metrics of a plurality of informationtechnology (IT) projects, first programming instructions to generate aplurality of scorecards for a plurality of IT portfolios, using saidstored data, with each scorecard showing where IT projects of an ITportfolio stand on said performance metrics, each IT portfolio having asubset of said IT projects, second programming instructions to generateone or more investment maps of said IT portfolios, using also saidstored data, and generate a plurality of graphical representations forthe IT portfolios with at least a selected one of the size of each ofthe graphical representations representing the investment size of the ITportfolio, and the color of each of the graphical representationsrepresenting the soundness of the IT portfolio, each investment mapshowing where said IT portfolios stand on a plurality of performancemetrics, third programming instructions to facilitate navigation from aselected one of said investment maps to a corresponding one of saidscorecards for a selected IT portfolio by a user of the investment mapthrough selection of a representation of the IT portfolio; and at leastone processor coupled to the storage medium to execute said first,second and third programming instructions.
 19. An apparatus comprising:a storage medium having stored therein data associated with performancemetrics of a plurality of information technology (IT) projects, firstprogramming instructions to generate a plurality of scorecards for aplurality of IT portfolios, using said stored data, with each scorecardshowing where IT projects of an IT portfolio stand on said performancemetrics, each IT portfolio having a subset of said IT projects, secondprogramming instructions to generate one or more investment maps of saidIT portfolios, using also said stored data, showing where said ITportfolios stand on a plurality of performance metrics, thirdprogramming instructions to facilitate navigation from a selected one ofsaid investment maps to a corresponding one of said scorecards for aselected IT portfolio by a user of the investment map through selectionof a representation of the IT portfolio; fourth programming instructionsto generate a plurality of dashboards for said IT projects, using alsosaid stored data, with each dashboard graphically illustrating one ormore aspects of at least one IT project, and fifth programminginstructions to facilitate navigation from a scorecard to acorresponding one of said dashboards for a selected IT project by a userof the scorecard through selection of a representation of said ITproject; and at least one processor coupled to the storage medium toexecute said first, second, third, fourth, and fifth programminginstructions.
 20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said fourthprogramming instructions generate a plurality of graphs for a pluralityof aspects of the IT project, and place and tile said graphs.
 21. Anapparatus comprising: one or more storage medium having stored thereindata associated with performance metrics for a plurality of informationtechnology (IT) projects, first programming instructions to generate aplurality of dashboards for said IT projects, using said stored data,with each dashboard graphically illustrating one or more aspects of atleast one IT project, second programming instructions to generate ascorecard for an IT portfolio, using also said stored data, with thescorecard showing where IT projects of the IT portfolio stand on saidperformance metrics, and third programming instructions to facilitatenavigation from said scorecard to a corresponding one of said dashboardsfor a selected IT project by a user of the scorecard through selectionof a representation of said IT project; and at least one processorcoupled to the one or more storage medium to execute the first, secondand third programming instructions.
 22. The apparatus of claim 21,wherein said data associated with performance metrics include selectedones of budget metrics, staffing metrics, project size and qualitymetrics, and progress metrics.
 23. The apparatus of claim 21, whereinsaid second programming instructions generate a plurality of rows andcolumns for each of said scorecards, and populate measures of theperformance metrics of each IT project in columns of a row.
 24. Theapparatus of claim 23, wherein said second programming instructionsgenerate, for one or more of the scorecards, a cross-project compositemeasure for at least one of the performance metrics, and populate thegenerated cross-project composite measure in the corresponding column ofa cross-project summary row.
 25. An apparatus comprising: one or morestorage medium having stored therein data associated with performancemetrics of a plurality of information technology (IT) projects, andprogramming instructions to generate a plurality of scorecards for aplurality of IT portfolios, using said stored data, with each scorecardshowing where IT projects of an IT portfolio stand on said performancemetrics, each IT portfolio having a subset of said IT projects, eachscorecard having a plurality of rows and columns with measures of theperformance metrics of a project populating corresponding columns of arow, and at least one column having a cross project composite measure ofthe performance metric populated in the column of a cross projectsummary row; and at least one processor coupled to the at least onestorage medium to execute the programming instructions.
 26. Theapparatus of claim 25, wherein said measures and cross project measuresof the performance metrics comprise selected ones of metric values andgraphical indicators.
 27. An apparatus comprising: one or more storagemedium having stored therein data associated with performance metrics ofa plurality of information technology (IT) projects, and programminginstructions to generate an investment map of a plurality of ITportfolios, using said stored data, showing at least where said ITportfolios stand on technology type, risk, investment size andsoundness, with placement of each graphical representation of an ITproject denoting the technology type and risk of the IT portfolio, afirst visual attribute of the graphical representation denoting anamount of investment in the IT portfolio, and a second visual attributeof the graphical representation denoting soundness of the IT portfolio;and at least one processor coupled to the at least one storage medium toexecute said programming instructions.
 28. The apparatus of claim 27,wherein said first and second visual attributes of the graphicalrepresentation comprise size and color of the graphical representation.